Stalin's Rule

Rise of the Communist Party

• The Communist Party became the most powerful organization in the Soviet Union during Lenin's time.

World War II

• Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.
• The war in Europe ended with an Allied victory in 1945.
• Stalin became the Chair of Sovnarkom in 1941.
• The relationship between the party and state changed during the Second World War, with the state gaining more power.
• The GKO (State Defense Committee) was responsible for overseeing the Soviet war effort during WWII.

Stalin's Purges

• Stalin purged the Communist Party in the 1930s.
• The two main rivals for Stalin's position were Trotsky and Bukharin.
• Stalin used the technique of "self-criticism" to test the loyalty of his closest allies.
• Stalin demanded that Yezhov be expelled from the Party, resulting in his wife's arrest and imprisonment.
• Winston Churchill described Vyacheslav Molotov as "a mighty architect of misfortune".

Government and Politics

• Under Lenin, political terror was not used against the working class.
• Stalin established the OGPU (Unified State Political Administration) during the 1920s.
• The authority of Lenin's closest allies declined during the 1920s.
• Stalin fostered a cult of personality in government during his last years.
• As the power of the state grew, Ministers joined the Politburo, and members of the Politburo were given important ministerial jobs.
• Stalin changed the naming of government officials, replacing "People's Commissars" with "Ministers".
• Stalin used the party-state relationship to his advantage by appointing loyal officials to key positions.

Constitution and Governance

• The Soviet Constitution of 1936 set out the structure of the Soviet Government and the rights of citizens.
• Western socialists described the constitution as "a sham".
• The Great Terror led to the purging of thousands of effective administrators.
• Stalin allowed state and Party officials to continue working during the war to ensure that government could run smoothly.
• Stalin made this decision to maintain stability and efficiency in government.
• Stalin changed the composition of the Politburo during the war, appointing more loyal officials.
• The constitutional bodies were largely irrelevant between 1936 and 1988 due to Stalin's strong control over government.
• Stalin maintained his power in the government after the war by appointing loyal officials and fostering a cult of personality.